ADU Builder in Orlando, FL
Brightview Homes builds Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and detached garages on Orlando, FL properties. Four pre-priced plans from $48,000. We handle permitting with the City of Orlando and unincorporated Orange County. Florida licensed builder — CRC1334100.
Whose rules apply to your Orlando property?
The single biggest mistake Orlando ADU buyers make is assuming "Orlando rules" are one thing. They're not. Your specific address falls under one of two jurisdictions, each with its own ADU code and permit office:
- City of Orlando (inside city limits) — The City of Orlando Permitting Services office handles your application. The city has its own ADU code separate from the county. Inside city limits means: downtown Orlando, College Park, Audubon Park, Lake Nona, Baldwin Park, Conway (mostly), and the rest of the incorporated city.
- Unincorporated Orange County — Orange County's planning & zoning office handles your application. The county allows ADUs subject to county code, with key rules including a cap at 50% of the primary home's living area or 1,000 sq ft (whichever is less) and a 5-ft rear setback for one-story detached ADUs. Unincorporated Orange also offers the Ready Set Orange pre-approved plan program — eligibility includes a homestead requirement.
The Orange County Property Appraiser website tells you which jurisdiction applies to any address. We check this for you during your free buildability review.
The four Brightview ADUs we build in Orlando
Same pre-priced plans as every Brightview ADU project — adapted to your Orlando lot and the jurisdiction's setback, height, and lot-coverage rules.
The Garage
21' × 23' detached 2-car garage. Not an ADU — just a standalone garage. The most affordable structure we build.
The Studio ADU
~350 sq ft, studio + 1 bath. Designed to fit tight-setback urban Orlando lots.
The 1-Bedroom ADU
498 sq ft, 21' × 23', true 1BR/1BA. Most popular in Orlando for in-law suites and long-term rentals.
The Carriage ADU
2-story: 2-car garage below, 517 sq ft 1BR/1BA apartment above. Strong fit on Orlando lots where parking + a rentable unit both matter.
Where Brightview builds in Orlando
We build ADUs across the entire Orlando footprint — both inside city limits and across unincorporated Orange County. Areas where we've been most active include:
- East Orlando — Brightview has finished home builds on $65K East Orlando lots that sold for $450K–$480K. The value-engineering approach that works on those scattered-lot home builds applies directly to ADU work. East Orlando lots often have the depth needed for detached ADUs.
- College Park, Audubon Park, Baldwin Park — Established inner-ring neighborhoods. Lot widths can be tight; the Studio ADU and 1-Bedroom ADU are the natural fits.
- Conway, Pine Castle, Belle Isle adjacent — Mid-sized lots, growing rental demand, fewer HOA restrictions than newer subdivisions.
- Lake Nona & East Orange — Newer, larger lots. HOA restrictions vary by community; we confirm before design.
If your Orlando address isn't on the list above, that doesn't mean we don't build there — it just means we haven't called it out. Send us your address and we'll confirm in 48 hours.
How an Orlando ADU build works with Brightview
- 1. Send us your Orlando address. We confirm which jurisdiction applies (City of Orlando or unincorporated Orange County) and pull current zoning, setback, and lot-coverage rules.
- 2. Free buildability review (48 hours). We check whether ADUs are allowed on your specific parcel, what size fits within setbacks, and whether you qualify for the Ready Set Orange pre-approved plan program (Orange County unincorporated only).
- 3. Pick your plan. Choose from the four Brightview ADU plans or a custom design. We tell you which works best given your lot and the jurisdiction's rules.
- 4. Fixed-cost contract. Final price locked before permit. No mid-project surprises.
- 5. Permit + build. We submit to the City of Orlando or Orange County, manage every review cycle, and run construction with our own crew. Most ADUs build in 45–60 days once permitted.
- 6. CO and move in / rent out. Certificate of occupancy, final walkthrough, and the new unit is yours to live in, rent, or use for family.
Common questions from Orlando property owners
Whose ADU rules apply to my Orlando property — the city or the county?+
It depends on whether your address sits inside City of Orlando limits or in unincorporated Orange County. The two jurisdictions have separate ADU codes and separate permit offices. We confirm which one applies to your specific address during your free buildability review. The Orange County Property Appraiser website is the public source if you want to check yourself.
How long does an ADU permit take in Orlando?+
Orlando is the busiest building department in Central Florida. Plan on 8–14 weeks from application to issued permit. Construction is typically 45–60 days once permitted. Total time from contract to certificate of occupancy is usually 3–5 months. The permit queue is the main variable — we manage it for you, but we can't speed up the city's review.
What does an ADU cost to build in Orlando?+
Brightview ADU builds start at $48,000 for The Garage, $60,000 for the Studio ADU, $75,000 for the 1-Bedroom ADU, and $98,000 for the Carriage ADU. Starting prices include construction, permitting coordination, engineering, grading, and site cleanup for a standard lot. Orlando impact fees vary by jurisdiction and water/sewer district. Site-specific conditions (utility connections, drainage, access, landscaping) are quoted separately after we review your lot.
Can I rent my Orlando ADU on Airbnb?+
Long-term rental of permitted ADUs is generally allowed in Orlando. Short-term and transient rental (less than 30 days) is more tightly regulated by the City of Orlando, including registration and tax-collection requirements. We flag your address's short-term rental eligibility during the buildability review so your investment math is based on what's actually permitted at your address.
Does Brightview build inside Orlando city limits or only in unincorporated Orange?+
Both. We're licensed to build anywhere in Orange County, FL — inside City of Orlando, in any of the other incorporated cities (Winter Park, Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, etc.), or in unincorporated Orange County. The only thing that changes is which permit office we submit to. Florida licensed contractor — CRC1334100.
What's the Ready Set Orange program and can I use it?+
Ready Set Orange is Orange County's pre-approved ADU plan program — it streamlines the permit path for eligible unincorporated Orange County properties with homestead. It's not available inside City of Orlando limits. If your address qualifies, we can build under a Ready Set Orange plan or under a Brightview custom plan; we'll tell you which is faster and cheaper for your specific lot. Learn more about the program at the official Ready Set Orange page.
Send us your Orlando address
Free buildability review in 48 hours — go/no-go, jurisdiction confirmed, and a real budget range for your ADU build.